The Power Of Devotion

Once upon a time, the Bodhisattva was born as a Kinnara or celestial musician. During summers, he would come down to the plains on earth and live with his beloved Chanda on the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains. One day, while they were frolicking in the water of a stream, King Brahmadatta was passing by. His eyes fell on the lovely Chanda singing and dancing gaily in the water and he fell in love with her. Guessing that the Kinnara was her husband, King Brahmadatta shot and killed him with his arrow. He thought that with the Kinnara dead, Chanda would agree to marry him. But soon he was proved wrong.

Chanda sat wailing aloud beside her dead husband. And when King Brahmadda came up and offered his love to her, Chanda flared up at his words. “How could you think that I would forgive the man who has killed by husband?” she shouted. Her heartrending cries shook Sakka’s throne in heaven. Pleased with Chanda’s devotion, Sakka came down and restored the Bodhisattva back to life.